Did you take the MSF course?

[3imo]

reefer

[fodder650]

This is an interesting debate. But safety laws are all around you. Check out your car. The car itself has many devices and design decisions (forced by laws) to protect you. Inside the car the most visible one is the seat belt. Which most states now require you to wear. If you choose not to. You can and will be fined for it.

So why do bike riders feel exempt? Here in Pennsylvania we had a helmet law. Which to me is more a case of just stoping people from killing themselves. Thousand and thousands of Harley, Sportbike riders ect pushed to get it overthrown and its now gone. So what do I read at least once a week in my local paper? Another rider whos splattered themselves onto a curb. Another one that would have had a much better chance had they at least been wearing a helmet. But because both the Harley and Gixxer's feel they are above this. They are now allowed to kill themselves at will, and a lot of times their passengers go with them. Is this something that the government should regulate? Well you have two sides of it. They can make us wear helmets or they can put rollcages on the bikes (check out the BMW C1 for a bike that doesnt need a helmeted rider). Which would you prefer? And if you say theres the third option of just not regulating it. Because its a freedom of choice issue. Then why should someone be forced wear a seatbelt?

Especially in the age of the SUV and cell phone. Its just to darned dangerous to go out there unprotected. And this coming from someone who thinks, like an idiot, that my leather police jacket, leather gloves and non-full face helmet are enough. But this attitude is changing trust me. I just dont trust the other drivers anymore.

As for the MSF course. In some states the MSF teachers, not here in PA though, are able to stamp your permit at the end of the course to make it into a license. Honestly Id like to see it that way here. Because I took the MSF class before buying my first bike and it helped me.  I think its helped me when i drive my car as well. Because i'm watching things far closer then I was before the training.

[alerbaugh]

HA!!! what a dumbass.  I've taken to the basic and advanced courses and still learn something everyday.  Its people like that that give us a bad name.

[aaronstj]

This is an interesting debate. But safety laws are all around you. Check out your car. The car itself has many devices and design decisions (forced by laws) to protect you. Inside the car the most visible one is the seat belt. Which most states now require you to wear. If you choose not to. You can and will be fined for it.

So why do bike riders feel exempt?

I believe most anti-helmet law people are also anti-seatbelt law.

[3imo]

I have two children. I would FORCE them to wear a seatbelt for as long as I can. I am glad that there are laws that might force them to after they are grown and I am unable to tell them what to do.  Same for a helmet.

heres a story for ya...
-------------
I was anti seatbelt in highschool, ya know, "stickin it" to the man.  when I joined the army I was a bit  more weary of getting a ticket so I reluctantly wore my seatbelt on post.

ON POST only!

Well one day I put on the seatbelt, before I got to post which was out of character for me at the time. It was definitely not a habit.

That day I ran off the road on my way to Post in Grafenwhor Germany, at over 100mph.  into a wooded area. the car (99 chrys sebring) side swiped a very large pine tree. the tree ended up my back seat passenger, directly behind me.

Long story short. I almost died. 4 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, severe concussion and ruptured spleen. the medivac helicopter took too long,  I was bleeding internally, they didn't think I'd make it.

the seat belt pulled tight at the point of impact. keeping me from being completely crushed on my left side.

It saved my life.  Now I wear my seatbelt everyday and insist everyone else does as well.
The LAW is not meant to take your freedom away.  IT is a direct result of THOUSANDS of wrecks and thousands of lives lost. Probably pushed into law by the families of those who know that their lost loved ones would still be here today if the law was in place.

[Egaeus]

I have two children. I would FORCE them to wear a seatbelt for as long as I can. I am glad that there are laws that might force them to after they are grown and I am unable to tell them what to do.  Same for a helmet.

heres a story for ya...
-------------
I was anti seatbelt in highschool, ya know, "stickin it" to the man.  when I joined the army I was a bit  more weary of getting a ticket so I reluctantly wore my seatbelt on post.

ON POST only!

Well one day I put on the seatbelt, before I got to post which was out of character for me at the time. It was definitely not a habit.

That day I ran off the road on my way to Post in Grafenwhor Germany, at over 100mph.  into a wooded area. the car (99 chrys sebring) side swiped a very large pine tree. the tree ended up my back seat passenger, directly behind me.

Long story short. I almost died. 4 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, severe concussion and ruptured spleen. the medivac helicopter took too long,  I was bleeding internally, they didn't think I'd make it.

the seat belt pulled tight at the point of impact. keeping me from being completely crushed on my left side.

It saved my life.  Now I wear my seatbelt everyday and insist everyone else does as well.
The LAW is not meant to take your freedom away.  IT is a direct result of THOUSANDS of wrecks and thousands of lives lost. Probably pushed into law by the families of those who know that their lost loved ones would still be here today if the law was in place.

As you've said before, you're not an ATGATT type of person.  Is it going to take a similar experience on a motorcycle to change that attitude as well?

[3imo]

ATGATT??

[Egaeus]

All The Gear, All The Time

[3imo]

I do ride with most of my gear most of the time.
helmet always
jacket. in two yrs maybe total 20miles jacketless.
pants at least jeans always.
gloves always.

on that thread I was upset about people judgeing others based on looks.
I was trying to make my point.

when I first started riding. I only had a helmet. I didn't know anyone who owned a bike.  Had there been a law about a jacket I would have worn one.

I bought my first jacket after my first wreck in which I lost a chunk of flesh off each elbow and knee.
I was wearing a helmet and a button up shirt and kahki pants.

SO I guess YEAH.. It took a similar experience on a bike.